Shloka 49

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

पशुयोनिगता ये च पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः । अथवा वृक्षयोनिस्थास्तेभ्यः पिंडं ददाम्यहम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

paśuyonigatā ye ca pakṣikīṭasarīsṛpāḥ | athavā vṛkṣayonisthāstebhyaḥ piṃḍaṃ dadāmyaham || 49 ||

Translation

Aos que foram para ventres de animais—aves, insetos e répteis—ou mesmo aos que habitam ventres de árvores, a eles ofereço este piṇḍa.

Word by Word

• पशुयोनिगताः: gone to animal wombs (born as animals)
• पशुयोनिगताः: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject; ye)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु-योनि-गत (प्रातिपदिक; पशु + योनि + गत)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय) ‘गत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-भाव: पशुयोनौ गताः)

• ये: who
• ये: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः: birds, insects, and reptiles
• पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject; apposition to ye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि-कीट-सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (birds + insects + reptiles)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: सम्बन्ध/विकल्प (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• वृक्षयोनिस्थाः: situated in tree-wombs (born as trees)
• वृक्षयोनिस्थाः: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject; implied ye)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृक्ष-योनि-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; वृक्ष + योनि + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: वृक्षयोनौ स्थाः)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), बहुवचन

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (ritual declaration within Śrāddha/Piṇḍadāna instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It expands śrāddha compassion universally: the piṇḍa offering is intended to reach departed beings even if they have taken difficult rebirths (animal, insect, reptile, or even tree), affirming the broad welfare-intent of pitṛ-kārya.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While framed as ritual dharma, it reflects bhakti-driven mercy: the offerer prays and acts for the uplift of all connected souls, trusting that sacred offerings made with faith can benefit them across realms and births.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: piṇḍadāna within śrāddha is performed with a clear saṅkalpa specifying the recipients, including those believed to be in non-human yonis.